Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of internet‐mediated ‘relapse prevention therapy’ for patients with alcohol use disorder: A pilot study

Sharma, Anu; Das, Karobi; Sharma, Sunita; Ghosh, Abhishek

doi:10.1111/dar.13395

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Another recent study also showed the feasibility and effectiveness of telemedicine-delivered cognitive behavior therapy in an Indian setting. [ 14 ] The present study expanded the scope of telemedicine to ACT delivery. Given the potential for scaling up and patients’ convenience in telehealth-based ACT, these findings must be replicated in randomized clinical trials.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the waters: A pilot trial of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for alcohol use disorder

Khandelwal,

Das,

Sharma

et al. 2024

Indian Journal of Psychiatry

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Background: Psychosocial interventions help maintain alcohol abstinence. Third-wave psychotherapies have emerged as an alternative to cognitive behavioral therapies for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment. However, third-wave therapies have not been tested in non-western settings or via telehealth. Aim: We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in moderate/severe AUD. Methods: This was a pre- and post-study design. All those who met the eligibility (n = 40) criteria consented to participate. A trained nurse delivered four sessions of ACT, either in-person or via video-conferencing, per participants’ preference. Alcohol use, craving, relapse signs, and psychological flexibility were assessed three months post-intervention. Results: Twenty-eight participants (70%) attended all four sessions. There was a significant increase in abstinence and a decrease in alcohol use, frequency of drinking/heavy drinking, craving, relapse signs, and improved psychological flexibility. Outcomes were positive for either mode of delivery. Conclusion: ACT is feasible, acceptable, and probably effective in AUD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the waters: A pilot trial of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for alcohol use disorder

Khandelwal,

Das,

Sharma

et al. 2024

Indian Journal of Psychiatry

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“…[ 271 272 273 274 ] Computer-delivered and technology-based interventions for AUD and hazardous drinking are of recent interest. [ 275 276 277 278 279 ] The research focused on delivering interventions using trained nursing professionals and community-level counsellors and reported them as feasible and effective. [ 280 281 ]…”

Section: Psychological Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol use disorder research in India: An update

Narasimha,

Mukherjee,

Arya

et al. 2024

Indian Journal of Psychiatry

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Background: Despite alcohol use being a risk factor for numerous health-related conditions and alcohol use disorder (AUD) recognized as a disease, there was limited research in India until 2010. This narrative review aims to evaluate AUD-related research in India from 2010 to July 2023. Methods: A PubMed search used key terms for AUD in India after 2010. Indian and international journals with regional significance that publish alcohol-related research were searched by each author individually. These were then collated, and duplicates were removed. In addition, we also conducted a gray literature search on focused areas related to AUD. Results: The alcohol-related research in India after 2010 focused on diverse areas associated with alcohol use. Some areas of research have received more attention than others. Two major epidemiological surveys conducted in the past decade reveal that around 5% have a problematic alcohol use pattern. Factors associated with alcohol use, like genetic, neurobiological, psychological, and sociocultural, were studied. The studies focused on the clinical profile of AUD, including their correlates, such as craving, withdrawal, alcohol-related harm, and comorbid psychiatric and medical illnesses. During this period, minimal research was conducted to understand AUD’s laboratory biomarkers, course, and prognosis. While there was a focus on generating evidence for different psychological interventions for alcohol dependence in management-related research, pharmacological studies centered on anticraving agents like baclofen. Research on noninvasive brain stimulation, such as rTMS, has shown preliminary usefulness in treating alcohol dependence. Very little research has been conducted regarding alcohol policy. Conclusion: In the past decade, Indian research on alcohol has focused on diverse areas. Epidemiological and psychological management-related research received maximum attention. Considering the magnitude of the alcohol-related burden, it is essential to prioritize research to other less studied areas like pharmacological management of alcohol dependence and alcohol policy.

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“…Even among treatment-seekers, alarmingly high relapse rates form a solid rationale for assessing craving as a potential factor for relapse prevention. [ 7 – 9 ]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High craving is associated with fewer abstinent days and lesser time to relapse during treatment in severe alcohol use disorder

Murthy¹,

Soundararajan²

2023

Indian J Psychiatry

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Background: Craving, an integral aspect of addictive processes, underlies heavy alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Western studies point out that craving is associated with relapse risks in AUD treatment. The feasibility of assessing and following up with craving dynamicity is not studied in the Indian context. Aim: We aimed to capture craving and explore its association with relapse in an outpatient facility. Methods: Among 264 treatment-seeking male participants (mean [SD] age = 36 [6.7] years) with severe AUD, craving was assessed according to the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) at treatment initiation and two follow-up visits (median follow-up: 1, 2 weeks). Days to drink and percentage of days abstinent were acquired during the follow-ups (maximum follow-up days = 355). Those lost to follow-up were censored and considered as having relapsed. Results: High craving was associated with fewer days to drink when considered as a sole predictor ( P = 0.030). With covariates including medication at treatment initiation, high craving was marginally associated with fewer days to drink ( P = 0.057). Baseline craving was negatively associated with proximal percentage of days abstinent ( P = 0.015) and cravings at follow-ups negatively correlated with cross-sectional abstinent days (FU1: P = 0.009, FU2: P = 0.019). Craving reduced significantly over time ( P < 0.001), irrespective of the drinking status in follow-ups. Conclusion: Relapse is a real challenge in AUD. The utility of craving assessment in identifying relapse risk in an outpatient facility helps in identifying an at-risk population for future relapse. Thus better-targeted approaches in treating AUD can be developed.

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Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of internet‐mediated ‘relapse prevention therapy’ for patients with alcohol use disorder: A pilot study

Cited by 4 publications

References 26 publications

Testing the waters: A pilot trial of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for alcohol use disorder

Testing the waters: A pilot trial of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for alcohol use disorder

Alcohol use disorder research in India: An update

High craving is associated with fewer abstinent days and lesser time to relapse during treatment in severe alcohol use disorder

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